Indians roll into semifinals with romp over Benson County 64 - 34

Tuesday

Feb 26, 2013 at 11:48 AMFeb 26, 2013 at 11:51 AM

As a point guard, junior Hadley Smith is more accustomed to watching others score after he passes them the ball.

As a point guard, junior Hadley Smith is more accustomed to watching others score after he passes them the ball. Sometimes, however, a guy just has to do it himself.Smith pumped in a team-high 14 points on Monday and helped power the fifth-ranked Four Winds-Minnewaukan Indians cruise to a 64-34 win over the Benson County Wildcats in the first round of the Region IV Basketball Tournament in the Devils Lake Sports Center.A former starter at Devils Lake High School, Smith was one of 12 Four Winds-Minnewaukan players to score in the contest. He joined senior Trayvon McKay as the only Indians to reach double figures .Four Winds-Minnewaukan, now 18-2 for the season, all but decided the game in the first eight minutes of play. The Indians, backed by the play of Smith and McKay, reeled off a staggering 20-8 run in the frst quarter.It was never closer than that.The Indians, who also picked up solid play from seniors Austin Longie and Collin Delorme, continued to gun their offense in the second. Four Winds-Minnewaukan pushed its lead to a 21, at 33-12, at the half with a 13-4 spree in the second.Benson County managed to get its offense in gear in the third. The Wildcats matched the Indians basket-for-basket in the first eight minutes of the second half.The Wildcats went into the fourth quarter trailing 45-24.The Indians closed out the game with one final surge. Four Winds-Minnewaukan reeled off a 19-10 effort in the fourth.McKay finished the contest as Four Winds-Minnewaukan’s second-leading scorer with 13 points. Longie and Delorme added eight and six, respectively, in limited playing time.Other FW-Minnewaukan players etching their names into the scorebook were Jason LaRock, Brody Cavanaugh, Darion ThreeIrons, Steve Redfox, Devin Littlewind, Ryan Hill, Jasten McKay and Perry Mudgett.Brady Stoll led Benson County with eight points. Kaleb Westad added six.With the win over Benson County, Four Winds-Minnewaukan advances to the tournament’s semifinal round to face off against St. John. The game is slated to tip off at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the DL Sports Center.St. John earned its way into the semifinals with a 70-58 win over Harvey-Wells County on Monday night.